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Valvoline Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Top-line sales grew 25%: Net revenues rose to $503.8 million from $403.2 million. System-wide store sales rose 20% to $986.6 million, and system-wide SSS growth was 8.2%. Source
  • Operating income rose 29%: Operating income was $86.0 million against $66.9 million a year earlier. Income from continuing operations was $45.3 million, up 18%, and diluted EPS was $0.35, up 17%. Source
  • Same-store sales growth of 8.2%: System-wide SSS growth was 8.2% in the second quarter against 5.8% a year earlier. For the six months, SSS growth was 7.0% against 6.9%. Source
  • SG&A grew slower than revenue: SG&A rose to $98.7 million from $83.6 million, an increase of about 18%, while net revenues rose 25%. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $160.2 million for the six months, against $93.2 million. Free cash flow was $45.0 million, against negative $12.2 million. Source
  • New borrowings totaled $755.0 million: Proceeds from borrowings were $755.0 million in the six months. Long-term debt was $1,626.5 million at March 31, against $1,050.2 million at September 30. Source
  • Acquisitions and goodwill increased: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $644.1 million in the six months, against $9.6 million. Goodwill and intangibles, net, rose to $1,280.2 million from $740.5 million. Source

“We delivered a strong second quarter with results that reflect our focus on driving the full potential of the core business,”

Lori Flees, President & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
System-wide SSS growth Sourcefiscal 20265% - 6.5%Raised from 4% - 6%
System-wide store additions Sourcefiscal 2026330 - 360Kept
Net revenues Sourcefiscal 2026$2.0 - $2.1 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$540 - $560 millionRaised from $525 - $550 million
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$1.65 - $1.75Raised from $1.60 - $1.70
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$250 - $280 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year system-wide SSS growth range raised at both ends, to 5% to 6.5% from 4% to 6%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted EBITDA range raised to $540 million to $560 million from $525 million to $550 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted EPS range raised to $1.65 to $1.75 from $1.60 to $1.70. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Top-line sales grew 25%: Net revenues rose to $503.8 million from $403.2 million. System-wide store sales rose 20% to $986.6 million, and system-wide SSS growth was 8.2%. Source
  • Operating income rose 29%: Operating income was $86.0 million against $66.9 million a year earlier. Income from continuing operations was $45.3 million, up 18%, and diluted EPS was $0.35, up 17%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 21%: Adjusted EPS was $0.41 against $0.34 a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $133.6 million, up 28%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 26.5% against 25.9%. Source
  • Six-month income lower on other items: Six-month income from continuing operations was $13.1 million against $132.2 million. Other loss (income), net was $43.6 million of expense this year, against $72.5 million of income last year. Source

Store network and system sales

  • Store count reached 2,409: System-wide stores totaled 2,409, up 15.9% from 2,078 a year earlier. Net additions of 29 in the quarter were 15 franchised and 14 company-operated. Source
  • Store sales rose in both formats: Company-operated store sales were $450.7 million against $352.7 million. Franchised store sales were $535.9 million against $472.8 million. Source
  • Company-operated acquisitions and divestitures: Breeze stores divested as the FTC required numbered 45 in the first quarter and none in the second. Company-operated acquisitions were 3 stores in the quarter. Source

“Top-line sales grew 25% underpinned by system-wide same-store sales growth of 8.2% and the contribution from new stores, including Breeze, which is performing well as we continue to execute against our integration plans.”

Lori Flees, President & CEO

Same-store sales and demand

  • Same-store sales growth of 8.2%: System-wide SSS growth was 8.2% in the second quarter against 5.8% a year earlier. For the six months, SSS growth was 7.0% against 6.9%. Source
  • Mobile service enters same-store sales: From fiscal 2026, same-store sales include mobile service net revenues in markets that leverage store marketing channels. The definition is unchanged from the first quarter release. Source

Costs, margins and key items

  • SG&A grew slower than revenue: SG&A rose to $98.7 million from $83.6 million, an increase of about 18%, while net revenues rose 25%. Source
  • Gross profit rose with sales: Cost of sales was $316.8 million against $252.7 million. Gross profit was $187.0 million against $150.5 million. Source
  • Net interest costs rose: Net interest and other financing expenses were $27.7 million against $16.9 million. Net pension and other postretirement plan income was $1.2 million. Source
  • Key items excluded from adjusted results: Key items totaled $8.8 million pre-tax, against $8.2 million a year earlier. Management excludes key items from adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS. Source

“Our proven business model and resilient customer demand, combined with our team’s strong execution, reinforces our confidence in the growth algorithm.”

Lori Flees, President & CEO

Cash flow and cash position

  • Six-month operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $160.2 million for the six months, against $93.2 million. Free cash flow was $45.0 million, against negative $12.2 million. Source
  • Free cash flow excluding growth capex: Free cash flow excluding growth capital expenditures was $132.8 million, against $77.6 million. Maintenance additions to property, plant and equipment were $27.4 million, against $15.6 million. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $84.7 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $84.7 million at March 31, 2026, against $51.6 million at September 30, 2025. Source

Debt, acquisitions and goodwill

  • New borrowings totaled $755.0 million: Proceeds from borrowings were $755.0 million in the six months. Long-term debt was $1,626.5 million at March 31, against $1,050.2 million at September 30. Source
  • Acquisitions and goodwill increased: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $644.1 million in the six months, against $9.6 million. Goodwill and intangibles, net, rose to $1,280.2 million from $740.5 million. Source
  • Breeze amortization sits in key items: Amortization of Breeze acquired intangible assets is included in investment and divestiture-related costs, which management excludes from adjusted results. Source

Shareholder returns and share count

  • No share repurchases in six months: No common stock was repurchased in the six months ended March 31, 2026, against $76.8 million in the prior-year period. Source
  • Stockholders' equity rose to $353.1 million: Stockholders' equity was $353.1 million at March 31, 2026, against $338.5 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Diluted shares averaged 128.4 million: Weighted average diluted shares were 128.4 million in the quarter, against 128.2 million a year earlier. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital expenditure, six months Source$115.2 million in additions to property, plant and equipment, against $105.4 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: IT transition costs include temporary support for enhanced manual procedures and for material weakness remediation efforts. Source
  • Financial: Management cannot reconcile forward adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS to GAAP measures without unreasonable effort, because certain items cannot yet be predicted. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it continues to execute against Breeze integration plans and described the Breeze stores as performing well. No completion date is given. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.